Two years later…
“Narissa, come over to Mummy,” Aurora cooed to her dark-haired girl.
The now one-year-old was the centre of her life, and she knew it would be the ultimate demise of her father, who now held her chubby pink hands.
Narissa smiled at Aurora and made to take her first tentative steps forward before losing balance and landing on her bottom with a soft squish.
“Oh, my love, that was a good try,” Ian encouraged.
They were lounging on a blanket, soaking in the late summer rays, when they caught sight of the butler approaching with a silver tray in hand. A single white card sat on top.
Ian scooped Narissa up in his arms as he stood to take the calling card.
“Bethy,” he motioned for the nurse who was seated on the porch a few yards away. “Come and take Rissa to the nursery,” he instructed.
Aurora, who had been on her back soaking in the sun, sat up, intrigued.
“Who is it?”
He looked down at her with uncertainty. “Lady Wheaton.”
Aurora’s eyes widen at the words. Correspondence between herself and her aunt had been minimal, and only necessity required it for the past two years. Why on earth the woman had come all the way to their country home to call on Aurora was a mystery. She couldn’t even guess a reason.
“Will you see her?” he asked as Aurora quickly donned her stockings and slippers.
“I suppose I must; she came all this way.”
Aurora started to bush off some of the clovers that she and Narissa had plucked and made to fix her free-flowing hair.
“You look perfect,” Ian assured her as he took her hand and led her up to the house.
“I doubt I look very duchess-like,” Aurora grumbled nervously.
He kissed the back of her hand.
“The perfect image of a duchess if I ever saw one: sun-kissed, muddy hemmed, and twigs in your hair,” he added before pulling one of the offending bits of nature out.
Sitting in the vastness of the formal drawing room never felt quite homely to Aurora, but she was thankful for the open space as she seated herself across from her aunt.
Much to her surprise, Lady Wheaton looked troubled.
“Is Lord Wheaton in good health?” Aurora asked before the lady could muster the nerve to talk.
“Yes, yes, he is fine,” she responded as she twisted a white handkerchief in her hand.
The room fell silent again for a few moments as the couple waited for Lady Wheaton to declare the reason for her presence.
“I’m not good at this,” she finally said.
Lady Wheaton looked up at her niece, her brown eyes already brimming with tears.
“I’m sorry for what I did. I was wrong. I’m a silly ninny that has driven all my children away, and you as well. I’m stuck in that great house with only your uncle and am just miserable because I know it’s all my fault.”
As the floodgates opened, her tears ran freely down her plump cheeks. Aurora’s anger towards the woman melted away. Reaching forward, she took her aunt’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Lady Wheaton gave a weak smile of gratitude.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me right away, either of you,” she added, looking towards Ian, who had seated himself next to his wife. “But I hope in time we can be like a family again,” she added with a final sniff before rubbing the fabric against her nose.
“I’d like that too,” Aurora replied softly.
They spent the remainder of the afternoon talking with Lady Wheaton and catching up on the life of all those she had been disconnected from, who was invited to stay for a family dinner and to meet her great-niece for the first time.
“Thank you for being so forgiving to her,” Aurora said to her husband after Lady Wheaton was shown up to her room to freshen up.
He arched his brow in surprise that she would thank him for such a thing.
“Family is complicated,” he assured her as he took her hand and lifted her from her seat. “As long as you are willing to share our life with Lady Wheaton, I am, too.”
She smiled up at him, eyes full of love and admiration.
“Now,” he said, wiggling a wicked brow at her, “I am tired of all this talking about other people’s lives.” Reaching down, he scooped Aurora up and over his shoulder, releasing a squeal of delight. “I would much rather show you how much I enjoy having you in my life.”
“Ian, what will the servants think?” She half-heartedly scolded as he carried her out of the room and up the back stairs to their bedroom.
Her feet touched down on their lush carpeted floor, and she lovingly watched as he delicately removed each of her garments. He finished by removing the pins holding her hair, letting her auburn locks cascade down and frame her perked breasts.
He stood back to take in the entire view of her, and with lustful desire, she let him.
“I’ll never get enough of you,” he whispered reverently.
“Good, because you’re stuck with me,” she giggled.
Moving forward, he let her remove his clothing in a like manner till they both stood in front of each other, stripped of clothes and already breathless with need.
He took her mouth with his, exploring every facet of it as he slowly backed her to the bed. When the back of her thighs reached the plush duvet, he turned her around. Instinctively, she pressed her behind against his erected manhood.
He moaned in satisfaction and guided her to the bed. She bristled with goosebumps as he ran his fingers down her spine, her whole body bent over and exposed to the cooling air.
“Are you ready?” he asked in a strained voice as he massaged her behind.
She wiggled her bottom and spread her legs in response. Sucking in a breath, she felt the warmth of his hand guide his manhood inside her core, sinking in deep.
She moaned with need as he slowly pulled out of her and plunged in again. Reaching forward, he cupped one of her breasts, twisting her nipple as he dug deep into her again.
Already she could feel the need building in her, and she arched her back in response to give him more access to her centre.
Gripping her hip with his free hand, he steadied her before pushing into her hard and fast. Aurora gasped before biting her lip to keep herself quiet while he pumped into her again and again.
He teased and pulled at her nipple, moving from one to the other as he slammed into her from behind at an ever-increasing pace. Her own need was madding as she felt him swell even bigger inside her.
The swell in his girth was more than she could stand, and with a final thrust, he hit her core, sending her soaring over the edge. She was only vaguely aware of his own pulling release inside her as he pulled her up to him, taking both breasts in hand and massaging out every ounce of her pleasure.
Once finished, she collapsed against him. She barely registered his gentle kisses to her neck and shoulder as he pulled out of her, laid her on the bed, cleaned their lovemaking, and settled in next to her.
“Ian?”
“Mmm?” his voice was muffled in a half-awake tone.
“I’ll never get enough of you either,” she told him as she let her fingers tickle up and down the arm wrapped against her.
She felt his manhood stir against her.
“Oh my dear siren,” he cooed, now suddenly fully awake again, “that sounds like a challenge.”
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